INSIDE HEALTH CARE

AMA may support broad public smoking ban

Amid increased scrutiny of smoking in restaurants and bars, the American Medical Association is considering backing federal legislation that would prohibit public smoking in a variety of businesses.

The largest U.S. doctors group, representing a quarter-million physicians, is being asked by members to put its lobbying clout behind such federal legislation.

Such a move comes as local governments, such as the Chicago City Council, weigh similar smoking bans.

The AMA's resolution would call for banning smoking in "all cafeterias, restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, food courts or concessions, supermarkets or retail food outlets, bars, taverns, or in a place where food or drink is sold to the public and consumed on the premise."

The resolution, which will come before the AMA's policymaking House of Delegates at its interim meeting this weekend in Dallas, was put forth by the group's Medical Student Section. A vote of delegates could come as early as Monday.

Although it's unclear whether the delegates will support the measure, AMA leaders say the Chicago-based group certainly has a lengthy record opposing the use of tobacco in a variety of ways.

"The AMA has been a strong proponent of legislation to create smoke-free public places and work sites," said Dr. Ronald Davis, an AMA board member and director of the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit.

Davis has not yet taken a stance on the medical students' resolution and would not handicap its chances before the AMA's delegates.

But Davis said there is precedent in Congress to adopt smoke-free legislation, citing federal laws that banned smoking on commercial flights.

Congress has also introduced legislation over the years that would ban smoking in many public spaces as more and more local communities, states and private businesses are limiting where people may smoke.

"Most of the legislation in this area exists at the state or local level," Davis said. "This resolution would ask for federal legislation in an area that is typically covered by local statutes."

Board OKs improvements: The Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board this week approved an application from Chicago-based hospital operator Resurrection Health Care to invest more than $35 million in improvements at its hospital facilities within a block of each other on the city's West Side.

Known as Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center, the operation comprises two campuses, St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital, 2233 W. Division St., and St. Elizabeth Hospital, 1431 N. Claremont Ave.

Resurrection, which owns and operates eight hospitals in the Chicago area, has consolidated operations at the two facilities but both sites remain open.

The influx of new money will go toward upgrading nursing units in both facilities and constructing a consolidated emergency department on the St. Mary of Nazareth campus.